NOAA AWARDS MORE THAN $800,000 TO THE PACIFIC STATES
MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION FOR GROUNDFISH RESEARCH

The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration granted $800,231 to
the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to support the collection
of groundfish data. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The
grant will support collaboration between scientists, the fishing industry,
commercial fishermen, researchers and other stakeholders to provide
groundfish data to fisheries for research. Some activities include
data collection, the development of research proposals, research cruises
and research of habitat and stock assessment.

“Funding
from this NOAA grant will provide fishery managers with the information
they need to make informed decisions regarding groundfish populations,”
said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary
of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “This
grant allows the West Coast states to manage their coastal resources
while actively supporting NOAA and the Bush Administration’s
commitment to the environment.”

Each year, NOAA awards approximately $900 million in grants to members
of the academic, scientific and business communities to assist the
agency in fulfilling its mission to study the Earth’s natural
systems in order to predict environmental change, manage ocean resources,
protect life and property and provide decision makers with reliable
scientific information. NOAA’s goals and programs reflect a
commitment to these basic responsibilities of science and service
to the nation for the past 34 years.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety
through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related
events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s
coastal and marine resources. To learn more about NOAA, please visit
http://www.noaa.gov.
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